NIGERIA. JEREMIAH IDOWU SENTENCED TO DEATH

June 7, 2018:

An Osun State High Court, Ile-Ife Division sentenced a 38-year-old man, Jeremiah Idowu to death over armed robbery. Justice AbdulRasaq AbdulKaeem, in his judgement said the sentence will serve as deterrent to others. The Prosecutor had earlier tendered the confessional statement of the convict and two witnesses with the submission that the case has been proved beyond reasonable doubt that Idowu robbed Kehinde on the fateful day. During trials, Jeremiah Idowu, who claimed to be a herbalist hired Rasheed Kehinde on May 23rd, 2005 at Toro Farm Area, Modakeke-Ife, to convey him to cut his herbal medicine. On their way, they had a stop -over at Jeremiah Idowu sister’s house, where he collected a cutlass for the purpose of cutting the herbs. When they got to the bush, the convict gave the victim his diary to hold for him, and assured that he would not run away. According to the first prosecution witness, when they got to the bush, the accused person asked him to help him pick the herbs which he had cut down in a polythene bag. According to him, when he bent down to pick the herbs, the convict hit him with cutlass he was holding and asked him to bring all the money he had with him and he handed over the sum of N7, 800 that was on him to the convict. He said when the convict demanded for the key of the motorcycle, he took to his heels and the convict pursued him, but was forced to stop when he heard the sound of wood cutting machine. He added it was after the exit of the convict that he went back to pick his motorcycle, returned home and narrated the incident to his parent who took him to Division “A” Police Station, Moore, Ile-Ife where the case was reported. The convict who though made confessional statement to police denied the one-count charge of armed robbery preferred against him when arraigned.